Chapter 14 – Talin

Recommended for mature audiences only. Some content is not suitable for young readers.

(Updated for errors & minor content - 02-Jul-2018)

They reached the village right before sunset just as Eric had wanted.

Snow had expected a small village with a few families and even fewer houses, but when it came into view, she was surprised. It was quite large, surrounded by a high wall and an unguarded watch tower. Snow even saw the tip of white church as they got closer. Everything was hidden under a thick blanket of snow, and a modest hand-painted sign stood welcoming them at the gate. Talin, it read. Inside, the village proved to be just as grand, but it was an old village and was once home to many more people. Snow could see that before Ravenna, this village had been great and powerful, but just like the other villages, it had suffered throughout Ravenna's reign; even hidden way in the mountains. It had an air of honour about it though, and Snow felt instantly safe as soon as the gates closed behind her. Talin welcomed them, and Bane explained what had happened. He was very clear that the rebels may come looking for the Queen, but they didn't hesitate to help and offered them shelter, even though they knew the risks were high.

Most of the injured were given shelter with families throughout the village so they could be looked after and tended to. Snow and the others were given rooms in the village inn. It was large, but mostly vacant, not unlike the rest of the village. A decade before it must have been one of the primary stops for travellers on their way north.

After the injured had been seen to by the village doctor and everyone else had eaten and settled in, Snow summoned Bane, Eric and William to her room to continue their discussion about the rebels.

When Bane and Eric entered, they were covered from head to toe in snow. They'd gone for a walk after dinner and the snow had obviously picked up a lot since then. They left muddy footprints on the floor wherever they walked and shook themselves off like wet hounds, spraying melted snow all over the floor. Eric shrugged off his coat and threw it over a chair by the fire, then sunk into the second one. He pointed to the third and last chair and Bane sat down, hanging his own coat near Eric's. Snow rolled her eyes at the large men. She sat on the bed. William was the last to arrive. By the look of him, he had already bathed and changed into warmer clothes.

"How long will we be staying, Bane?" William said as soon as he closed the door. "The rebels could catch up to us any time now."

Eric answered before Bane could open his mouth. "We're safer here than out in the open, William. The villagers know the risks, we havnae lied to them."

"They are very kind to take us in like this," said Snow. "We owe them a great debt."

"Yes, we should repay them by leaving as soon as possible," William said. "We can't be here when the rebels show up again. We're sitting ducks, just waiting here."

Bane sighed. "Listen boy. We cannae leave until our people are well enough to travel. We need rest, food and warmer clothes. It's a miracle we've made it this far as it is." He turned to the hunter. "Eric, do ye know anythin' about these rebels? Who they are?"

Eric shook his head. "No, I've never seen people like this before. They're brutal, but stupid and impulsive. The two that jumped us by the river were only supposed to be trackin' us. They go' carried away and thought they could grab us, but they were mistaken."

"What about ye, Yer Majesty?" Bane asked Snow. "When they took ye back at the palace, did they say anythin'? Anythin' at all that could help us?"

Snow wracked her brain, she tried to remember everything that happened back at the palace. She had tried not to think about it at all until now, and she was grateful Eric hadn't pestered her about it before. All she could think of was the smell, the putrid stench the rebels carried with them. She remembered the large man hitting her and then waking up in the small storage room. He loomed over her, he kicked her and touched her; the memories made her shiver. Eric went to her and took her hand, sensing her discomfort, and she clutched it tightly.

"I'm sorry, I can't remember. I couldn't hear much; one of them hit me –" she paused.

"Anythin' at all?" Bane asked. "A name, a scar? A location perhaps?"

Snow closed her eyes and tried to remember. A man had grabbed her, she bit him on the back and he threw her to the ground and hit her hard across the face. There was something else… Something he said… She threw open her eyes. "Actually, there was a name. The man who took me said 'Argus'."

Eric's eyes darkened when she said the name, giving Snow an uneasy feeling. "Are ye sure?" he said.

Snow bit her lip. "Yes, I think so. He said, 'Argus wants you in one piece'."

Bane stood and gripped Eric's shoulder, "Argus? Ye dinnae think –? It cannae be him, surely?"

Snow looked at both men curiously. What did they know about this man? "What's going on? What do you know?"

Eric sunk to the bed and put his head in his hands.

Bane answered for him. "It was a long time ago now. I almost forgot about him."

Snow's eyes shifted between both men. "Forgot about who?"

Bane glance at Eric, who still had his head in his hands, not looking at anyone. "Ye didn't tell her?"

Eric shook his head. "Why would I?"

Bane just rolled his eyes and turned back to Snow. "It was before we went away to fight, Yer Majesty. Eric and I joined up together. No' many boys joined; our village was small in number back then and the other boys were too young, but there was a third who joined with us. His name was Argus."

"And you think it's the same person?" William asked.

"I dinnae know," said Bane. "Argus never came back from the war. He was captured and never seen again. We all thought he was dead."

"So, if he is alive, and if it's the same Argus you speak of," Snow spoke. "What does he want me for? What have I done?"

This time Eric spoke. "You havnae done anythin', Snow." He stared heavily at her. "It's me. He wants ye because of me. It's payback for what I did to him."

Snow didn't know what to say. She was trying to understand when Bane spoke suddenly.

"Eric, dinnae be ridiculous. It wasnae yer fault what happened to Sara. We thought he was dead. Dinnae do this to yer'self –"

"What else could it be?" Eric stood up quickly. "It's my fault. This whole thing is my fault."

"What is?" Snow was becoming annoyed. "Can someone please tell me what is going on?"

William nodded. "I agree. Who is Sara?"

Snow looked at him and blushed. For a moment she'd forgotten William was even in the room.

Eric sighed. "Sara was my wife."

"Your wife?" William glanced between Eric and Snow. She nodded, letting him know that she already knew.

"Yes," Eric continued. "Although, she wasnae always mine. Before we left for the war, Sara was promised to Argus. He was the only son of the richest family in our village. That's no' saying much; we were all poor, but Argus and his family did better than most. He had always liked her, infatuated is probably the better word, but Sara was less than happy about the engagement. She was only fourteen after all and had interest in… other boys. Argus always followed her, bought her things she didnae want or need – she found it very unsettling. Soon the three of us went off to fight, and only Bane and myself returned. That's when I lost my family and Sara and I... Well, we wed not long after."

"So, what does this have to do with me?" Snow asked quietly.

"My guess is he wants some sort of revenge. Findin' out that Sara married someone else was probably enough to send him mad, but knowin' that she was murdered… I wasnae there to protect her, and he blames me for it. He should."

"Eric," Bane warned him with a pointed finger. "I told ye; it wasnae yer fault."

"He's right Eric," Snow said. "None of this is your fault. If this really is the Argus you think it is, well, we'll just have to deal with it. Nothing you could have done would have prevented something like this."

William sighed loudly. "Listen, it's getting late. I think we should get some rest while we can. At least we think we know who is behind all of this. There's no use stressing over the past now. Like Snow said, we'll just have to deal with it."

Bane agreed. "Aye, the lad's right Eric. We should all get some sleep and come up with a plan in the mornin'."

William and Bane bid Snow a good night and returned to their own rooms. Eric stood uneasily beside Snow while she ran over everything she'd just learned in her head.

"I'm sorry I never told ye," he said nervously.

"Your past is your own business," she said. "Just telling me about Sara was more than I had the right to know."

Eric shook his head. "No, I should have told ye all of it right from the beginnin'. It's my fault ye're in this situation."

"No, it's not your fault. How many times do I have to say it?" Snow exclaimed. "Nobody knew this would happen. You said yourself, you thought he was dead. Eric, I wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for you. You've risked your life for me countless times, and I'll never be able to repay you for any of it." She put her hand to his cheek. He took hold of it and kissed it softly.

"Ye repay me every day just by smilin' at me with that sweet mouth." He ran his thumb gently across Snow's bottom lip. "All I have to do is look into yer eyes and the world melts away at my feet. Ye save my life every day just by breathin'."

Eric rested his forehead against hers and closed his eyes. He didn't know what the future held for them, but he did know one thing; he would do anything to keep her safe or die trying.

Snow could feel his warm breath and hear his heart beating just inches from her own. She put her arms around his neck and kissed him gently before he scooped her up and lay her softly on the bed. Leaving her there, he slid over the bolt on the door and blew out the candles that lay around the small room.

When he returned to her, he kicked of his boots and Snow reached out for him. He kissed her softly again and then took off her own boots, gently dropping them to the floor. He slowly pulled off her stockings, all while she lay almost breathless in front of him. He forced himself to take his time; tonight, he would make love to her the right way. If tomorrow the rebels attacked, and it happened to be his last day, he wanted to take his time with her; savour every moment. He wanted to remember the feeling of her flushed skin, the sound of her uneven breathing and soft moans as he ran his lips over her collarbone. He sat her up, kissing her tenderly while he untied her dress and pulled it smoothly over her head. When she was fully unclothed he caressed her breasts and placed a trail of small kisses from her chest to her stomach and kept going until she gasped. Snow moaned softly, and it only encouraged him further. It took all of his strength not to take her right then and there. She knotted her hands in his hair and cried out his name, but he stopped right as she was about to tip over the edge.

He moved to her mouth and kissed her, letting her taste the sweetness of herself on his lips. She tore open his shirt eagerly, not wanting to waste any more time. He was too slow, and it scared her; as if he was savouring his last moments with her. She kissed his chest as she untied his pants with shaking hands. He stopped her, placing her hands over her head and took them off himself. Snow gripped him with one hand, he was smooth and firm as she ran her hand slowly up and down. He moaned into her neck, his breath hot against her skin. She started to move faster but he pulled her hand away.

"Slow down," he whispered. "Relax, take a breath."

Snow tried to listen, but she didn't want to wait any longer. "I can't!" she exclaimed. "I need you."

Eric put Snow's hands above her head once again, but this time he held them there. "I'm going to make love to you, Snow. Be quiet, someone will hear if you cry out." He stroked her naked thigh and pulled her closer.

He positioned himself and kissed her softly as he slid deep inside her. She cried into his kiss, the relief she felt was almost enough to undo her. She didn't care if the whole village heard.

True to his word, he moved slowly, sending Snow closer to the edge with each thrust.

"Let me touch you," she breathed, wiggling her wrists still clasped together in his hand and he let go. She wrapped herself around him, meeting his hips with her own as they moved together. Eric peppered kisses over her eyes, the tip of her nose and took her mouth hungrily with his own. Despite the slowness of his movements, they were firm and unforgiving; she could feel the pressure building up inside her, like a pot of hot water about to boil over. She couldn't think, she couldn't see or speak; she forgot about the men chasing her, about Sara and William and Greta – all of them. All she could do was cling to him until the searing heat washed over her. It came like a tidal wave and tore through her body. Her throat was dry, and her voice cracked as she called out.

The sound of Snow crying out his name was music to his ears and finally he succumbed to her. He groaned into the pillow beside her face as he emptied into her, leaving nothing of himself behind. He collapsed beside her, breathless and defeated.